Jisbon; Catching Red John
Lisbon sat in her office, glaring at the paperwork sitting in piles upon piles on her desk. She let out a frustrated sigh and ran her finger through her thick black hair.
There was a knock on her door.
"What!" Lisbon snapped.
The door was pushed open and a full head of blond curls entered her office; bright blue eyes smiling.
Lisbon relaxed, and felt the butterflies rise in her stomach as his eyes gazed into hers.
"Hello Lisbon, lovely day don't you think? Why the long face?" Jane asked with the slight tilt of his head.
"It's nothing." Lisbon said quietly, trying to avoid eye contact.
"No, it's not nothing; you're making that face again." Jane commented, and she was.
Lisbon always had her guarded boss face on around the team, but not usually with Jane, unless she didn't want him to read her, but it never worked.
Jane didn't mind, he thought it was kind of cute.
"What face?" Lisbon asked, feigning innocence.
"The face you make when you don't want me to know what you're thinking." Jane stated.
"I am not!" Lisbon said sticking her bottom lip out slightly. Jane smiled; she probably didn't realize she was doing it, or that it was totally taking all of his self control not to kiss it.
Lisbon analysed the smile he gave her and threw him a suspicious look.
"What?" She questioned.
Jane's smile grew wider.
"Is there something on my face? What is it?" Lisbon asked, her hands going up to her cheeks that were slowly turning a light shade of pink.
Jane pulled her hands away from her face and held them in his, his face only inches from hers; he gazed into her deep green eyes.
Lisbon's eyes widened and she could hear her heart beat in her ears.
"Lisbon, there is nothing on your beautiful face." He whispered.
At that moment, Van Pelt burst into the office, a blur of red hair.
"Uh, Boss? We have a case." Van Pelt said, looking from Jane to Lisbon, and then paused at Lisbon's hands that were still intertwined with Jane's.
Lisbon's cheeks turned a slightly darker shade of pink, but she didn't let go of Jane's hands, which left him surprised.
"Yes, we'll be right out." Lisbon said quietly, but clear.
Van Pelt turned and left.
Lisbon let go of Jane's hands and stood up, making her way around the desk.
"Lisbon, might I say you look quite cute when you blush." Jane said with a wink.
Lisbon groaned and stormed out of her office, Jane trailed behind her.
"Homicide, Oakland PD specifically asked for us, don't screw it up." Hightower said as Lisbon and Jane entered the room.
"I expect you'll keep a tight leash on him on this one Lisbon, don't let him out of your sight." Hightower said motioning to Jane, who only grinned.
Lisbon nodded.
"Okay, Jane comes with me. Meet you guys at the crime scene." Lisbon said pulling her keys out of her pocket.
As they walked across the parking lot, Jane jumped in front of Lisbon.
"Can I drive?" Jane begged.
Lisbon didn't even think about it twice.
"No way!"
"Why not? Don't you trust me?"
"No I don't trust you and it's because you always drive too fast." Lisbon pushed past him towards the black SUV.
"You don't trust me?"
Lisbon turned in surprise as he sounded genuinely hurt.
"No! I don't. You've never really given me a reason to trust you Jane. You're not trustworthy." She said quickly.
Jane's face fell, within seconds he was standing in front of her, grasping her hands in his. He bent his knees so he was at eye level with her.
"I need you to know that you can trust me. I will always be there for you Teresa, no matter what." He whispered.
Lisbon sighed, blushing once more. She tried to cover it up by giving him a confused look.
"You can drive." She muttered, sticking her lip out slightly.
Jane felt that happy feeling in his chest again. A big grin spread across his face, and the butterflies rushed into her stomach once more.
Jane gave her a quick kiss on the nose and took the keys. He skipped past her towards the SUV.
Lisbon stood there for a moment, he had been acting all weird for awhile now, but he'd never kissed her before, not that she was complaining. It was probably just one of those spur the moment things.
She smiled to herself and then followed Jane to the car.
Jane also smiled to himself as he had seen her little unguarded smile in the review mirror. Her smiles filled him with the happiness again, something he hadn't felt in awhile.
Lisbon slid into the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt.
Jane smiled at her and she attempted to conceal her smile.
"Just mind the speed limit." She said softly.
"Of course, anything for you Lisbon."
The zoomed down the highway, against Lisbon's wishes.
They screeched to a stop at a red light and Lisbon clutched his hand that wasn't on the wheel.
"Slow down! Please!" Lisbon exclaimed.
"Who died and made you queen grump?" Jane asked with a smile.
It was meant as a joke, but it didn't feel like one to Lisbon, too many memories. She pulled her hand away, and then Jane remembered.
When the light turned green, Jane drove slowly across the intersection, and then pulled over.
"Jane, what are you doing? We have a crime scene to get to!" Lisbon exclaimed.
It may have been twenty five years ago but the hurt was still fresh, and Lisbon did not want to talk about it, at all, especially not with Jane.
"Teresa, you know I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry." Jane said quietly as he pulled her over the SUV console for a hug.
"Jane let go of me!" Lisbon whimpered.
Though she really wished he wouldn't, she pushed him away.
"I'm so sorry about your mother, Lisbon." He whispered.
Lisbon felt a burning sensation behind her eyes threatening tears.
"It doesn't matter, it was years ago." Lisbon whispered, but the cracking of her voice gave her away.
Jane pulled her closer to him, as close as he could with the seatbelt and the console between them.
"It does. I hurt you and I'm sorry." He whispered.
Lisbon clutched his jacket in her fists trying to eliminate the space in between them, burying her face in his neck.
Why was she crying, she shouldn't be crying about this, and not in front of Jane of all people.
He pressed his lips against the top of her head.
Could this be? Was she falling for Jane?
No way, this wasn't at all professional.
Lisbon pulled away, denying her feelings, and Jane put his hands back on the wheel, confused.
"Let's go Jane! We have a crime scene to analyse, and drive the speed limit!" Lisbon snapped, wiping her eyes.
Jane silently pulled back into traffic; he was scared he had ruined his chances with Lisbon. He probably didn't have a chance; he would never be good enough for her. Why bother, and who knew what Red John would do if he found out...
When Lisbon got on scene she was greeted by the sheriff.
"What do we got?" Lisbon questioned.
"We were hoping you could tell us..." The sheriff said quietly.
He lead into the room and on the white wash wall a giant smiley face was drawn in the victim's blood above her body.
"Jane!" Lisbon called.
Jane came running and stopped beside Lisbon. The sight of the face filled with dread.
Lisbon saw it on his face, and without thinking she wrapped her thin fingers around his hand and squeezed reassuringly.
Jane only sighed and walked over to the victim, leaving Lisbon slightly hurt. Did he not want her like she had thought he did, like she wanted him?
His signals were confusing her.
It was probably just one of his games, she thought.
"Who is she?" Lisbon asked the sheriff, who was focused on the gruesome scene before him.
"Eva Jackson, college student." Cho replied from behind the sheriff.
"Story?"
"Roommate went home for the weekend, found her like this when she got back at around ten this morning. ME said she was killed at about eleven thirty last night." Cho said pushing past the sheriff.
"Evidence?" Lisbon questioned, although she already knew the answer.
"Nope, nothing."
Lisbon sighed, and approached Jane who was standing there, staring at the red smile.
"Come one Jane, there's nothing else we can do here." Lisbon grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the grisly picture.
"Let's go back to the office, Jane."